Heavy traffic in Cebu City due to IEC road closures

CONGRESS OPENS Catholic priests and faithful attend Mass at Plaza Independencia during the opening of the 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City on Sunday. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

CEBU CITY – Vehicular traffic has been slow moving in the northern corridors of Cebu City on Tuesday since 5 a.m. when Pope John Paul II Street was closed to accommodate buses ferrying delegates of the International Eucharistic Congress who are headed for the IEC Pavilion.

Although the roads were reopened by 10 a.m., the early morning rains did not help to ease up the traffic along the M. Cuenco Avenue from Barangay Banilad to Barangay Talamban near University of San Carlos.

The wet roads and pockets of floods forced some vehicles to slow down especially at the vicinity of Cardinal Rosales Avenue, said Joy Tumulak, operations head of the Cebu City Traffic Office (CCTO).

He said portions of Cardinal Rosales Avenue are low-lying and easily accumulate rainwater.

“We are asking the motorists to use alternative roads if possible and to further increase their patience,” Tumulak said.

Tumulak said the about 30 enforcers deployed along the city’s norther corridors were working to help ease the flow of traffic.

READ: How to survive traffic during the week long International Eucharistic Congress
Traffic is expected to worsen again at 5 p.m. when the CCTO will close the Pope John Paul Street for the IEC delegates.

Affected by the build-up are nearby roads like F. Cabahug Street and Mindanao Avenue located inside the Cebu Business Park and along the Banilad-Talamban corridor.

Traffic was also slow moving along Gorordo Avenue where IEC delegates passed to get to the IEC Pavilion. CDG